Coin-controlled cyclorama



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

B. S. MOLYNEUX. 0011 1 CONTROLLED OYGLORAMA. No. 438,170.

Patented Oct. 14, 1890.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

B. s. MOLYNEUX. COIN UONTROLLBD GYGLORAMA'.

No. 438,170. Patented-Oct. 14, 1890.

I 7 e v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIcE.

BARTON S. MOLYNEUX, OF MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.

COIN-CONTROLLED CYCLORAMA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 438,170, dated October 14, 1890.

Application filed November 9, 1889. Serial No. 829,786. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, BARTON S. MOLYNEUX, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Microscopic Cycloramas; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to devices for exhibiting under the power of a magnifying-glass all sorts of objects mounted on a movable table at certain intervals apart and brought one by one beneath the lens, and has for its purpose to produce a highly-entertaining as well as instructive exhibition.

In the practical embodiment of my invention Iconstruct abox-like case or frame having a cover. This cover is pierced at some convenient point to receive a vertical shaft or spindle. having a knob or handle on its portion above the cover, and a stem with a screw-thread thereon extending below the cover. Atable (shown asin the shape of adisk with a toothed periphery) is secured on the portion of the spindle below the cover, and

on this table is a plate or chart of card-board or other material, upon which are mounted or otherwise applied the objects or representations thereof it is intended to exhibit, or the objects can be placed directly on the table. In the cover is a sight-opening, preferably covered by a glass or other transparent tube, upon the top of which is clamped the magnitying-lens. In another opening of the cover is a coin-receiving chute, which is detachably secured in position by a lock, the key-hole escutcheon of which is secured to the top surface of the cover. Pivoted in suitable lugs depending from the bottom surface of the disk or table is a lever Weighted at one end and provided with acoin-receiving portion at the other. In the normal position of the disk or table the coin-receiving end of this lever lies directly beneath the opening of the chute, and the disk is prevented from movement by the contact of said lever with the chute. The weighted end of said lever is of almost equal turned. A suitable pawl engages with teeth on the periphery of the disk and prevents it from being turned backward. Attached to the cover, adjacent to and in the path of movement of the coin-receiving end of the lever is a finger or projection which will come into.

contact with the coin and discharge it from the lever. As the coin falls from the lever, it drops into a chute pivoted to the side of the box, and is retained by said chute in front of an observation-pane until a second coin is dropped in the chute, when the disk will again be set free, and a projection depending from its lower surface will strike anarm of the chute and dump the same to dischargethe coin into the box. By this means-a clerk or other employ of the establishment in Which the machine is placed is enabled to detect a spurious coin or other article and to note the person depositing the same. Attached to the top of the cover are label-holders, one of which contains a card with directions for operating the machine, and the other the names of the objects on the exhibition card or table. Interchangeable exhibitioncards are employed, and once in a given time the cards are changed andanew one is placed in the label-holder. In this way almost every conceivable object desired can be exhibited and the machine be made to present a perfect kaleidoscope of objects or views. Interchangeable lenses of more or less magnifying power can be employed, according to the number of diameters it is desired to enlarge the object or objects.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a vertical section of a machine embodying my invention on the line at a: of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view. Fig. 3 is a section of the cover, showing many parts in elevation on line y 3 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lens, toothed disk, and exhibiting-card, broken away to show the pivotedcoin-receiving lever mounted on the under surface of the disk. 7

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the invention,

with the cover raised. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the exhibiting-card and washer, and Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan view and side elevation of the coin-receiving lever.

Similar letters refer to similar parts th roughout the several views.

A is the box-like frame of the machine, and B the cover thereof.

0 is a shaft or spindle mounted in a suitable bushing in the cover and having a milled or knurled finger-button c, and a reduced portion threaded upon its end to receive a suitable nut projecting below the cover.

D is a peripherally-toothed table, shown as 1n the shape of a disk perforated at its center to fit upon the reduced portion of the spindle.

E is an exhibition card or chart, on which is mounted the series of natural objects ee 6, or the representations thereof it is desired to exhibit. This card is of nearly the same diameter as the table, and over it is placed a washer 6, also axially perforated to fit upon the reduced portion of spindle C, the table, card, and washer being clamped together thereon by a nut d.

F is an angular coin-receivin g chute mounted in a suitable perforation of the cover and extending belowthe same. The mouth portion f of said chute is inclined so that a coin placed therein will roll down by gravity. The

hub f of the chute is grooved to receive the ward of a lock G, the key-hole escutcheon g of which slightly projects above the top surface of the cover. By detachably locking the chute in position it can be readily removed should it become clogged.

H is a lever having a slot h of a size just sufficient to receive and retain a coin of the desired denomination-for instance, a fivecent pieceprovided with inclined end walls h. This lever is pivoted at or about its center between suitable lugs or standards a", secured to the under side of the disk D, and is provided with an end 71, of sufficient preponderance to nearly counterbalance the weight of a coin-such as a five-cent piecewhich the machine is designed to receive. It will be observed that this lever not only weighs the coin, but has a slot adapted to receive a coin of the desired denomination only, so that should a penny or other smaller coin be placed in the chute it will roll down the same and drop through the sloth of the lever into the box below. In this manner the coin is not only weighed, but is also measured by the lever, so that slugs, disks, wads, or smaller coins will not depress the same to release the table. I

I is a chute pivoted to the side of the box or case, and i is an arm extending therefrom.

J is a pane of glass or other transparent media located in the side of the box opposite the delivery end of chute I.

K is a finger or projection depending from the cover and adapted to come into contact with the coin held in the slot of lever H and discharge the same therefrom. The coin as it falls from said lever is caught and retained by chute I in front of the observation-pane J, so that its denomination or character can be ascertained by the employ in charge of the machine.

L is a tube, preferably composed of glass or other transparent media, secured in an opening of the cover. I Z are tubes or rods with threaded sockets mounted on the cover on opposite sides of the tube L.

M is a plate perforated and recessed to receive the magnifying-lens N, which plate is clamped to the devices ll by suitable screws P. It is of course obvious that a series of interchangeable lenses N may be employed, any one of which can be secured on the top of the transparent tube L by the plate M. In this manner a glass of the desired magnifying power can be readily substituted for the one in use, if the objects on the table require more or less enlargement.

O is a pawl which engages with the teeth on the disk D and prevents it from being turned backward.

P is a dog attached to the under surface of disk or table D and provided with a projection p, which engages with the inclined end i." of arm 1' of chute H just after the disk is started, and dumps the chute to discharge the coin held therein into the box A.

Q is a label-holder attached to the top of the cover, containing a card with the names of the objects carried by the disk, and R is a similar holder having a card with the directions printed thereon for operating the machine.

S S is a suitable lock for the cover.

The operation of the invention is as follows: If a coin of the denomination the machine is adapted to receive is placed in the chute, it will roll down the inclined mouth portion thereof and drop upon the end of lever H and be caught and retained by the inclined end walls 71/ of the slot thereof, depressing this end of the lever so that it will clear. the chute or a projection on the side thereof. By then grasping the knurled knob or handle a the disk D and the object card or chart E mounted thereon, if i one is employed, can be rotated to bring each object beneath the lens N, or sight-opening, if the lens is not employed. During the first part of the revolution of the disk the coin held in the slot of the lever will be discharged by the finger or stripper K and will drop into chute I and be retained opposite the observation-glass J thus enabling it to be inspected and its character ascertained, the coin being retained in this position until the motion of the disk is arrested by contact of lever H with the chute F, and thereafter until a new coin is dropped into said chute and the lever is again released, when the projection P will dump the chute and the coin will drop into the box.

It will be seen that two safeguards are provided for the detection of spurious coins, slugs, wads, &c., and that if the coin-chute should become clogged by accident or design it can readily be detached to permit the removal of the obstruction.

Many modifications could be made that would come within the province of my invention. For instance, the object chart or card could be carried by a table mounted on a horizontal axis or on a sector-shaped table, or

on a slide adapted to be moved under the microscope to bring each object or representation thereof in succession beneath the glass. A suitable motor could also be employed for intermittir 'ly moving the table beneath the glass, which motor would be released by the deposit of a proper coin. So, too, the objects could be attached to or representations thereof placed on the table itself and a series of interchangeable tables employed, each of which would present a difierent set of objects.

Many parts of the invention are adapted to be employed with various forms of vending apparatus, and I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to their use in a de- Vice of the character described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cyclorama comprising a frame provided with a sight-opening, a table provided with a coin-controlled device, and a card or chart having a series of objects or representations thereof carried by said table and movable beneath said opening, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. A cyclorama comprising a frame provided with a magnifying-glass, a table provided with a coin-controlled device, and a card or chart having a series of objects or representations thereof carried by said table and movable beneath said glass, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. A cyclorama comprising a frame provided with a magnifying-glass, a card or chart having a series of objects or representations thereof movable beneath said glass, a table for supporting said card or chart, a coin-chute, and a coin-actuated releasing device carried by the table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. A cyclorama comprising a movable table provided with a card having a series of objects to be exhibited, and a coin-controlled lever carried by the table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. A cyclorama comprising a box-like frame having a suitable cover, a magnifying-lens located over an opening in said cover, a table movable beneath the cover, a card or chart having a series of objects or representations thereof, and acoin-controlled releasing device carried by the table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. A cyclorama comprising a frame and a magnifying-glass mounted thereon, a table carrying a series of objects or representations thereof movable beneath the glass, and a coincontrolled lever carried by the table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

'7. A cylorama comprisingaframe and magnifying glass, a series of interchangeable cards or charts, a device on which any one of said cards or charts can be mounted to move beneath the glass, and coin-controlled means for releasing said device, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

8. A cyclorama comprising a box and cover having a coin-receiving chute and magnifying-glass, a shaft or spindle mounted in the cover, a disk having a series of objects or representations thereof secured to the spindle below the cover, and a coin-controlled lever carried by the disk, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. A movable table having a series of objects or representations thereof arranged in series thereon and provided with a coin-controlled lever, substantially as set forth.

10. The combination, with a coin-receiving chute, of a movable table carrying a series of objects or representations thereof, and a lever connected to the under side of said table and serving to lock the same from motion until a coin of the proper denomination is dropped into the chute, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

11. A cyclorama comprising a frame having a pane of transparent material, a coin-controlled exhibiting device, and a receptacle for temporarily holding the coin opposite the transparent pane, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

12. The combination, with a frame provided with a sight-opening, of a spindle having a knob or handle, and a coin-controlled table carrying a series of objects or representations thereof mounted on the spindle and movable beneath the sight-opening, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

13. The combination, with a frame, of a coin-chute having a shank mounted in an opening therein and a lock located adjacent to said chute, substantially as set forth.

14. The combination of a box-like frame provided with a sight-opening, a tube of translucent material placed over said opening, a lens carried by the tube, and a coin-controlled exhibiting device movable beneath the tube and lens, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

15. A lever counterbalanced at one end and provided with a slot having inclined end walls for the reception of a coin at the other, substantially as set forth.

16. A lever having a slot provided with inclined end walls of the proper dimensions to catch and retain a coin, saidslot being open at one side, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination of a movable'table carrying a seriesof objects or representations thereof, a lever pivoted to the under side of and a coin-receiving chute, a magnifying-glass and an exhibiting device carried by the cover, substantially as set forth.

21. A microscopic cyclorama comprising a box-like frame having a cover, a table rotatabie beneath said cover and bearing a series of objects or representations thereof, a coinchute and a magnifying-glass carried by the cover, a device for preventing the table from being turned backward, and a coin-controlled lever pivoted to the under surface of the table, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

22. The combination of the frame having a sight-opening, the table movable beneath said opening, the coin-receiving lever pivoted on the under side of the table, and the stationary stripper, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

BARTON S. MOLYNEUX.

Vitnesses:

WM. H. BLoDcETT, A. H. OPSAHL. 

